Cramer launches Senate campaign to unseat Heitkamp

Republican Congressman Kevin Cramer launched his campaign for U.S. Senate Friday at a rally in Bismarck, saying he had to jump in the race after his opponent celebrated voting against a 20-week abortion ban. The North Dakota lawmaker has served three consecutive terms in the House, but decided to give vulnerable Democrat Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, North Dakota's incumbent, a challenge.

Sen. Feinstein Introducing Bill To Raise Minimum Age For Assault Rifle Purchases To 21

Sen. Diane Feinstein announced Friday that she is introducing legislation to raise the minimum age to purchase rifles - including military-style assault weapons - from 18 to 21. Under federal law, handguns cannot be sold to anyone under 21. But the law allows licensed gun dealers to sell "long guns" - including assault-style rifles to buyers 18 and older. Nikolas Cruz, the suspected gunman in the school shooting Wednesday in Parkland, Florida, that left 17 dead and injured 15 others used an AR-15 assault-style rifle , according to police.

Trump’s addiction to coal hurting Nevada

The damaging effects of the Trump administration's war on President Barack Obama's legacy are beginning to hit home in Las Vegas. In the past few days, the administration hit Southern Nevada with two gut-punches in the form of a proposed 65 percent reduction in federal funding for renewable energy research and development, and closure of the Las Vegas EPA research laboratory.

Senate candidate Rokita’s spending of ‘franking’ money’s out of control, some say

AP/FileToo much spending?: In this Aug. 9, 2017, file photo, U.S. Rep. Todd Rokita, R-Ind., speaks during a news conference outside of the Indiana Statehouse in Indianapolis. An Associated Press review questions Rokita's spending of public money to support media campaigns, mailers and other forms of mass communication designed to raise his name recognition.

Election board in Donnelly’s home county challenges signatures for Braun

The election board in the home county of Democratic Sen. Joe Donnelly wants an investigation into whether Republican candidate Mike Brain filed bogus signatures to get on the primary ballot. The South Bend Tribune reported the St. Joseph County Election Board, composed of two Democrats and one Republican, voted unanimously Thursday to ask the county prosecutor, Indiana State Police and the Indiana attorney general for the investigation after its review of signatures allegedly found discrepancies, including signers who were not registered voters.

The White House says Robert Mueller’s indictment proves Russia…

The White House says Robert Mueller's indictment proves Russia didn't affect the election outcome - here's why they may be wrong The Republican Party has claimed vindication from the charges against 13 Russian nationals alleged to have meddled in the 2016 presidential campaign. Donald Trump "is glad to see the Special Counsel's investigation further indicates-that there was no collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia and that the outcome of the election was not changed or affected," the White House said.

Trump appeals California judge’s curb on birth control rules

The U.S. Department of Justice is appealing a California judge's decision to temporarily block new Trump administration rules allowing more employers to opt out of providing no-cost birth control to women. Lawyers filed the notice of appeal to the 9th District Court of Appeals on Friday, nearly two months after Oakland-based U.S. District Judge Haywood Gilliam blocked the changes to President Barack Obama's health care law.

Russian operatives launched attack on US election in 2014

A year before Donald Trump announced his presidential candidacy, two Russian operatives landed in the United States to lay groundwork for an intelligence operation targeting the legitimacy of the 2016 election. What began as a Cold War-like attack by an old adversary would mix old-fashioned political agitation with 21st century social media tools that ultimately roiled the election and shook the America's political landscape.

Magnitude-7.2 earthquake slams south, central Mexico

A timeline released by Florida authorities shows that the 19-year-old former student who confessed to a deadly high school shooting was only in the building for six minutes. A timeline released by Florida authorities shows that the 19-year-old former student who confessed to a deadly high school shooting was only in the building for six minutes.

Top Democrat says Obama sharesresponsibility for Russia’s meddling

The Obama administrationA s muted response to the 2014 Sony hack may have laid the groundwork for RussiaA s meddling in the 2016 elections, a top Democrat argued Friday. Rep. Adam Schiff, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, said the previous administration should have established a "more forceful deterrent" against potential adversaries considering cyberattacks against the U.S. or its institutions.

Beto O’Rourke banks $2.2M in six weeks in bid to unseat Sen. Ted Cruz

El Paso Rep. Beto O'Rourke, the Texas Democrat hoping to oust Republican powerhouse Sen. Ted Cruz, announced he's raised $2.2 million in the first six weeks of 2018. That's almost as much as O'Rourke raised in the final three months of 2017, when he posted a $2.4 million haul and outraised the sitting senator.

House Republicans add 5 members to incumbent protection program

The House GOP campaign arm announced Friday that it is adding five Republicans to the ranks of its incumbent protection program for this year's midterm elections. The National Republican Congressional Committee's Patriot Program now has a total of 23 GOP lawmakers on its roster as it tries to defend the House GOP majority.

Paris and Nicky Hilton pose up at Monse in New York

FBI director promises inquiry after admitting Bureau was warned SIX WEEKS AGO that Florida shooter wanted to kill people and was stockpiling guns but did not investigate or pass to Miami office BREAKING NEWS: Mueller grand jury throws down challenge to Putin as it sensationally indicts 13 Russians and infamous 'troll factory' for interfering with 2016 election by 'supporting' Trump and 'disparaging Hillary Clinton' EXCLUSIVE: Michael Jackson's half-sister reveals how dad Joe carried on his 25-year affair with her mother by pretending to be on business trips while secretly visiting his second family and spoiling her with gifts NBC labeled disrespectful after network bosses insisted on the incorrect pronunciation of 'Pyeongchang' during its Olympic coverage because it's 'cleaner' Republican congressional candidate and NRA member is blasted over incredible new campaign ad showing her firing ... (more)

Trump’s latest budget undercuts his call to focus on mental health, school safety

Trump's latest budget would slash the major source of public funds for mental health treatment, the Medicaid program serving more than 70 million low-income and disabled people. The budget also calls for a 36 percent cut to an Education Department grant program that supports safer schools, reducing it by $25 million from the current level of $67.5 million.